SME 10 or Aries 3 with SME IV

sme 10, no contest. However, I suggest a new one. Why compromise if you are into getting the best sound. SME IV is will disappoint. Also, you need to get the super platter for the Aries 3. Again, anything else would be a compromise that you will hear. I have a Aries 3, super platter, 12.7 arm. Great sound. Wished I had gone the sme 10 route. Will dump my current rig for a 10 once I get BO's check.

I am curious why do you think the SME IV will disappoint. I have heard it on a Delphi MK V and was impressed. Or are you saying it would disappoint on an Aries? Are you not concerned about the 25 lb super platter weight on the bearing?

Having heard SME arms on Oracle V's, and having heard an Aries 3 (but with a VPI arm of course), my feeling is that an SME arm on an Aries might not be the best match. They both seem to be on the "black background" side of things, which might be too much of a good thing in combination - you might find the combo to lack PRAT.

As Oracle's have a wide open sound, the SME arm is generally considered to be an excellent match to the Oracle (to that point, Oracle even supplies an SME-made Oracle/SME 345 arm). The combination certainly makes nice music to my ears.